Why is Aunt Ruth all of a sudden Fascinated by Cemetaries.

Why is Aunt Ruth all of a sudden fascinated by cemeteries.

Cemeteries are wonderful for validating and verifying data. Imagine the thrill when you research records, gather vital data, shift through documents and then to be able to actually go to a place that validates all you have researched. An example of this would be, identifying Joe Dow as born this date, died this date and married to Sue Sue. Then to be able to visit a grave site and lo and behold there is a marker with Joe Dow's birth and death date buried right before you next to his wife Sue Sue. No matter how many times you researched the data, to see it right before you, just gives you a sense of closure and satisfaction that you have indeed closed any doubts of your research.

Cemetery visiting is not as common today as it was in the past. Just as we learn how to eat with manners, the visiting of a cemetery have some formalities.

A cemetery is an off shoot of the church. When visiting the Arizona on Oahu they reminded us that this was in fact a cemetery and we should act accordingly.

If you are not visiting a cemetery to attend a funeral, it is best to pick a time when there is no funeral being conducted. This is in respect for the family. But if this is just not possible, do not interrupt, join in or disturb in anyway the funeral taking place and don't get in the way of funeral processions.

First thing to do when visiting a cemetery is to go to the cemetery office if open. It is proper to introduce yourself and state the purpose of your visit. Many times you can save yourself a lot of time and bother. Many caretakers are pleased to help you find your location or information. The most important reason to go to the office is to find out the rules of the cemetery site. The rules should be placed in plain view and easy to read. If there is something you do not understand ---- ask. Never interrupt an employee on the phone or speaking to another person. Just wait. Then without exception: Follow the cemetery rules. Most have a sign near the entrance stating hours, rules about decorations, etc. Obey these rules. Rules about decorations must be followed. Most cemeteries are open from dawn until dusk. Try not to remain in the cemetery after dark. If the cemetery says, "Closed dusk to dawn," get permission to visit it after hours. If you inadvertently stay past dusk, remember that you are breaking the law; leave cheerfully and quickly when you realize your mistake. Likewise, if the gate is locked, it just might be a hint that you're not allowed into a private cemetery. Stay out!

Don't litter. Do not leave any trace of you being there. Do not sharpen a pencil and leave the sawdust. Do not leave a Kleenex, a gum wrapper or worse the gum any where on the grounds. Carry it out with you.

Don't bring pets to a cemetery, or if it's necessary to bring them, make sure to keep them on a leash, make the animals stay on the paths and come prepared to clean up after them.
Follow the roadways and don't drive or walk on the grass. Drive slowly and obey any speed or parking signs posted in the cemetery. You do not have the right of away.

Keep children nearby and don't let them run across the grass, play on any of the monuments, or take the flowers or articles off the grave sites. It is correct they are children and do not know better but you need to be in control of the children. While it is good to get children used to paying respects at a cemetery, they often don't fully understand the meaning of everything in the cemetery.

Keep voices down and respectful. Don't use bad language. Respect this tranquil place in which to mourn. Don't be overly friendly and talk to strangers because they may want to be alone in peace. It's best to speak in subdued tones, and not approach strangers unless they initiate conversation.


Don't touch any monuments or gravestones. These belong to the families who placed them there. Some older memorials might be in disrepair and might fall apart under the slightest touch. Protect what's in the cemetery. Do not lean on fragile headstones, much less sit on them. Don't use shaving cream to reveal inscriptions; many of them contain perfumes or other ingredients which contribute to decay. Acid rain has already done enough damage! A halogen flashlight at a sharp angle will reveal nearly as much--and sometimes more--than shaving cream would. Step carefully on graves. Leave plants, markers, badges, ribbons, and so on, exactly where you found them. Do not pick anything, even autumn leaves from the trees. However, if you find empty soda cans or fast-food wrappers, you can help the cemetery caretaker by putting them in the trash.

Don't take photos of other people or other funerals. Turn your cell phone off. Cemeteries are wide open spaces and voices tend to carry.

Cemeteries are solemn places with clear rules of etiquette.
Ask before you do any gravestone rubbings due to decaying stones.

Dead jokes are inappropriate. If someone starts joking, stop them immediately or leave the cemetery. We've seen jokers suddenly twist an ankle, or encounter other odd problems. Hmmmm, Obey the laws.

Do not eat, drink, or smoke in the cemetery. Step outside the cemetery if any of these pastimes are necessary.

Deerman Cemetery

Nothing happens by accident, we are the sum of the parts of the puzzle assembled, we weave our lives but at the end we have a beautiful and well balanced tapestry and all those other innuendos. Being a very busy mom, one of my biggest escapes were books. People thought it was funny that I would plant myself under a tree and read a book.

I would read wonderfully written family sagas by authors James A. Michener, Elizabeth Jane Howard, Nora Lofts, and Susan Howatch as fast as they were released in paper book or became available at the library. I seldom paid full price for the hard copy. I was always impressed with the families that had a family burial plot. Little did I know at the time that my own family story is a wonderful family saga waiting to be written.

And we have family cemetery plots!! More than one!! The GenWeb has set up a marvelous volunteer network that is documenting and identifying the cemeteries around the world. Small family plots are having websites dedicated to them. I have written about the Mooring cemetery in Lake County, Tennessee in another blog but this blog is about the Deerman Cemetary.

The cemetery back ends to a farm.

Overview of steps that once led to the chapel.

A woman by the id MargaretCheney has posted on the ancestry message boards about the deerman cemetery .The old Deerman's Chapel & Cemetery is located about 7 miles south of Steele, Al. on old Highway 11. It was founded by Mary Deerman, widow of Solomon Deerman, after she moved to the area (Monroe County, Mississippi Territory) in 1816. She died in 1823 and is buried there. I feel sure others were buried there earlier. Henry Deerman, her son, died Sept 16, 1857, and is buried there.During World War II a large military base, Camp Sibert, was built on land which included the chapel, which was torn down and a new church was built across the highway. A fence was erected around the cemetery. Probably there were no markers for most of the older graves. The family of Mary Deerman lived nearby for many years and knew personally who of the Deerman family were buried there without a marker and where they were located. In 1984 several of Mary's gggggrandchildren contributed money for the purchase of a marker. I'm not sure but they may have purchased markers for other Deerman graves also.After Daniel Davis Deerman's death (he left three children), Rebecca Jane Pickens Deerman married George Washington Davis, son of Wilay Davis and Polly Broyles. Wiley Davis was a brother of Margaret, wife of Richard Deerman, brother of Daniel Davis Deerman.If you can locate a copy of the book "Ancestors and Descendants of the Dearman/Deerman Families", it contains the above info and a list of graves with markers believed to be related to the Deermans. I don't believe there is a history of the church or an official list of the graves in a repository anywhere.You probably already know that Rebecca Pickens Deerman moved with the Pickens family to Texas after Wiley's death, and married G. W. Davis in 1854 in Cherokee Co Tx, where she died in 1885. She and G.W. had ten children. She was born in Athens, McMinnville, Tennessee.

and here is the data of the Dearmans buried here found on its own website called "Magnolias and Peaches"

Deerman Chapel Cemetery
Saint Clair County, Alabama

the numbers above the names indicate the row and space of the gravesite.
3-21
Alewine, Rosa E [Deerman]Deerman Chapel Cemetery
1882
1922
NA

60-23
Bagget, Jane [Dearman]Deerman Chapel Cemetery
20 Dec 1845
20 Sep 1900
NA


60-28
Bryant, Julia [Dearman]Deerman Chapel Cemetery
20 Jun 1852
01 Jun 1929

-0
Dearman, Alvis B Mesopotamia Cemetery (Oak Hill)
22 Sep 1926
25 Feb 1977


36-15
Dearman, Andrew J Mesopotamia Cemetery (Oak Hill)
7 Apr 1894
3 Oct 1940


-0
Dearman, Christine R Mesopotamia Cemetery (Oak Hill)
18 Jul 1933
10 Jan 2002


36-2
Dearman, Kate R Mesopotamia Cemetery (Oak Hill)
9 Aug 1897
18 Jun 1943


36-3
Dearman, Leslie H Mesopotamia Cemetery (Oak Hill)
1 Jan 1917
3 Apr 1953


36-1
Dearman, Lynn H Mesopotamia Cemetery (Oak Hill)
27 Jul 1892
4 Jan 1957


-0
Dearman, Ruth B Mesopotamia Cemetery (Oak Hill)
14 Jun 1900
07 Nov 1976


1-4
Dedman, Mary Boykin Greensboro Cemetery
31 Aug 1858
21 Jul 1862


5-5
Deerman, Evaline [Harrison]Deerman Chapel Cemetery
08 Jan 1819
17 Jun 1890


5-4
Deerman, Henry Deerman Chapel Cemetery
27 Feb 1813
16 Sep 1857


-0
Deerman, Margaret [Davis]Deerman Chapel Cemetery
1794
1865


2-31
Deerman, Marvin F Deerman Chapel Cemetery
22 Mar 1896
31 Aug 1920


-0
Deerman, Mary [Brigman]Deerman Chapel Cemetery
1755
1823


60-9
Deerman, Richard Deerman Chapel Cemetery
25 Mar 1783
30 Apr 1849

Top Ten Genealogy Moments in 2009

Top Ten Genealogy Moments in 2009
Lisa Alzo, who writes The Accidental Genealogist blog, posted her Top 10 Genealogical Moments of 2009 and invited other genea-bloggers to write about theirs too.

Top 10 Genealogical Moments in 2009:

Chronilogically?? or by Importance??

ok 10 in no particular order.

1. A moment of genealogy community acceptance by being asked to be the Sunshine Person for the Chula Vista Genealogy Society. Does it sound like a made up position? Well it is ---Shirley Becker came up with the post and I was accepted annoumiously.

2. A moment of surprise when the LATimes called to interview me regarding my Grandma's Geni Camp that I conducted for a week with my grandchildren.

3. A moment of accepted family connection meeting "new" cousins Martha Jane Good Caswell, Preston Bell, Lonnie Potter, and David Reed.

4. A moment of accomplishment receiving Eliza Jane Mooring Hayley Works pension application regarding the great grandfather my father never knew, Captain John William Hayley.

5. A moment of feeling that somebody-out-there-understood-what-I-really-wanted-in-a -software-program ROOT MAGIC 4

6. A moment of collaboration with my Aunt Helen showing her that we had over 200 relatives that are ready to be presented for temple.

7. A sense of being a part of history: Connecting the Needhams and the Hayleys in Jamestown 1640 and realizing their off springs (my g-g-parents) marry in 1850.

8. The moment of devastation I felt when I realized what my family survived during and post Civil War.

9. A moment of validation connecting with so many genealogist verifing, and relating to my family history.

10. A moment of responsibility and purpose when I realized that I am the Family Historian and need to complete this work to the best of my ability.